Mandolin Cafe Blog

As we did in last year and in 2009, we pause and recap the memorable highlights in the mandolin world as we saw them.

January, 2011 - Classical mandolin and the Grammy Awards met for the first time when Avi Avital was part of the nomination for Avner Dorman's Mandolin Concerto with Avi as soloist with Metropolis Ensemble.

Speaking of classical, one of the finest recordings of the year came from the UK's Ben Bosco and his recording Bach on Mandolin with all parts played by Bosco.

The launch of our TablEdit searchable database, now hosting 670 tunes as contributed by our forum members.

A legend left us. Rest in peace, Charlie Louvin

February, 2011 - A very important collection was made available for the first time in English with the release of the Raffaele Calace Method for Mandolin.

A lucky person picked up a free Northfield Mandolin courtesy of Northfield Instruments and the Mandolin Cafe in a special giveaway that netted over 10,000 registrants.

A much welcome re-release of a great classic: Tiny Moore and Jethro Burns, Back to Back.

Bill Graham reported in on the status of a Bill Monroe Movie that seems to be having trouble getting off the ground in Monroe Movie Moving Forward.

March, 2011 - An Alison Stephens Memorial Concert was held in London.

Celebrating one of the all-time great acoustic groups, David Grisman's Acoustic Oasis released the David Grisman Quintet - 25th Year Reunion Concert.

Sierra Hull's terrfic new release Daybreak was released.

Mike Marshall released his now top-selling DVD Arpeggio Workout for Mandolin.

Berklee Press released another best selling collection entitled Beyond Bluegrass Mandolin, Etudes and Ideas for the Modern Mandolinist by John McGann and Matt Glaser.

April, 2011 - Blind Pig Records re-released an important series of tracks from 1986 by Yank Rachell entitled Blues Mandolin Man.

Another great one leaves us: Harley Allen, son of bluegrass legend Red Allen and a prolific song writer passed away.

The launch (well, sort of) the Collings Fretless Bass Mandolin! Our bit of annual April Fool's fun.

One of the most important books on Gibson ever was published in the form of Spann's Guide To Gibson 1902-1941.

John Reischman & The Jaybirds release Vintage & Unique.

Another terrific giveaway, another lucky winner in the Design a Weber Giveaway.

Rest in peace. The passing of the legendary Hazel Dickens.

May, 2011 - Sleep With One Eye Open, the new release from Chris Thile and Michael Daves created quite a storm of feedback and an awful lot of MP3/CD sales. Follow-up tours we marred by illness and Daves' inability to travel to the UK due to a family emergency.

Mel Bay Publications, Inc. finally joined the "on demand market" which was good news for the struggling publisher.

Matt Flinner's ambitious project The Real Bluegrass Book published by Hal Leonard.

Rebel Records announced the release of a collection of cuts by John Duffey: The Rebel Years: 1962-1977.

Will Patton and friends release Flow, one of our favorite recordings of the year.

June, 2011 - Thomas A. Adler's new book Bean Blossom: The Brown County Jamboree and Bill Monroe's Bluegrass Festivals is finally available in June after a late May announced publish date. We had the only feature interview on the internet with the author.

ArtistWorks Academy of Bluegrass is the hottest ticket in online learning with Mike Marshall's School of Mandolin as one of the sections.

July, 2011 - Rest in peace. The bluegrass world loses legendary fiddler Kenny Baker.

Possibly the most popular interview of the year was published with 10 Questions For John McGann.

Gibson files a lawsuit again Saga Music over the sale of supposedly bogus guitars. The lawsuit is reported to have been silently dropped in December, 2011.

August, 2011 - Berklee College of Music announces the hiring of Jason Anick.

Federal authorities raid Gibson plants charging violations of international laws governing the importation of woods.

September, 2011 - 6th Annual Monroe-Style Mandolin Camp sells out in the year celebrating Monroe's 100th birthday.

September should be named the official Bill Monroe 100th birthday celebrations with far too many events and tribute recordings to name in a single space.

Mike Marshall is instrumental in the formation of the Ger Mandolin Orchestra, a tribute to Polish musicians who died in the holocaust. Performances are held in San Francisco and ultimately in Poland.

Joe Carr's Play Like A Legend - Bill Monroe Tunes & Songs for Mandolin is published, his fifth book of the year and possibly his most important work to date.

One of the year's hottest new products is released in the Planet Waves PW-CT-12 NS Mini Headstock Tuner.

Hands down the best Monroe tribute of 2011 is released in The Del McCoury Band - Old Memories: The Songs of Bill Monroe.

We announce a winner in The Loar LM-500 Giveaway.

October, 2011 - The Goat Rodeo Sessions with Chris Thile, Yo-Yo Ma, Stuart Duncan and Edgar Meyer is released.

Andy Statman's long awaited star-studded double CD Old Brooklyn is released.

Ricky Skaggs picked up Entertainer and Musician of the Year at the ICM awards.

November, 2011 - According this online interview, Chris Thile says he's preparing a solo Bach recording.

The only known July 9, 1923 Fern Loar mandolin appears for the first time on the Gruhn web site.

Richard Thompson's Strict Tempo recording is re-released proving what an exceptional mandolin player he is in addition to being one of the finest guitar players in the world.

December, 2011 - Mike Compton's long awaited solo recording Rotten Taters is released.

We announce the winners in our subscription giveaway to Mike Marshall's School of Mandolin.

The Mandolin Store announces the launch of their own line of mandolin family instruments under the name Lafferty Mandolins.